Administration of an &agr;2-adrenergic receptor agonist to enhance cardiopulmonary resuscitation

US6369114B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Institute of Critical Care Medicine · US

Inventors

• Max Harry Weil · Northbrook, US
• Wanchun Tang · Palm Desert, US
• Jose Bisera · Camarillo, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 30, 1999
• Grant date: Apr 9, 2002
• Expiry date: Nov 30, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61K45/06
• WIPO field: Pharmaceuticals
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Methods, formulations and kits are described for resuscitating a patient suffering from cardiac arrest, for enhancing the efficacy of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, for treating post-resuscitation hypotension, and for reducing the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias and myocardial dysfunction in a patient following cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Prior methods and agents often cause inotropic or chronotropic effects, which can lead to undesirable post-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction. The invention comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of an &agr;2-receptor agonist that does not cross the blood-brain barrier, such as &agr;-methylnorepinephrine, to enhance cardiopulmonary resuscitation.